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  • Profile picture of Diogenes of Babylon

    Diogenes of Babylon posted an update 5 years, 1 month ago

    Discovery identifies non-DNA mechanism involved in transmitting paternal experience to offspring

    “The big breakthrough with this study is that it has identified a non-DNA based means by which sperm remember a father’s environment (diet) and transmit that information to the embryo,” says Sarah Kimmins, Ph.D., the senior author on the study and the Canada Research Chair in Epigenetics, Reproduction and Development. The paper builds on 15 years of research from her group. “It is remarkable, as it presents a major shift from what is known about heritability and disease from being solely DNA-based, to one that now includes sperm proteins. This study opens the door to the possibility that the key to understanding and preventing certain diseases could involve proteins in sperm.”

    https://phys.org/news/2021-03-discovery-non-dna-mechanism-involved-transmitting.html

    • Profile picture of Billy Bob
      Billy Bob replied 5 years, 1 month ago

      Geez this protein stuff is getting a lot of press time lately, vaccines etc.

      • Profile picture of FiatLux
        FiatLux replied 5 years, 1 month ago

        I get kind of twitchy when I hear this research opens “the possibility that the key to understanding and preventing certain diseases could involve proteins in sperm.” Because that also means the possibility of finding the key to understanding how to modify sperm so that it gives certain diseases to offspring. But–silly me–they would never do such a thing!